Wild horses don't cost anyone any money in vet bills. When they get hurt they either recover and go on, go lame and get eaten, or die from infection. And nobody cares.

But when my horse gets a sore, infection, or ailment that causes lameness, then I get to pay for it both in vet bills and lost riding time.

And no, I don't have a million dollar horse.

I always protect my horse's legs with either brushing boots or polo wraps regardless of the trail conditions, be it dry, wet, muddy, or snowy.

What would you recommend is the best? I looked at the woof boots suggested earlier and they looked good kinda pricy but I'm not sure how much of the leg they protect. My biggest concern is bugs every day I clean her legs and apply fly spray and everyday she has more blood and scabs from flies.Posted via Mobile Device

Oh I know they don't protect against bugs but I figured why not kill two birds with one stone. She is older and just being trained and I have no idea on her history and would like to do some pretty lengthy rides eventually so I would rather prevent injury then have to call the vet after. She is also not extremely balanced but is getting better so I would like her to not injure herself with her own feet.

Thank you for the suggestions I am definately looking into all of them.Posted via Mobile Device

Poppy- if you decide to not use boots, perhaps coating the legs with Swat will keep the bugs away for your trail rides.
Flies who seem to enjoy bathing in fly spray are usually deterred by swat or stick/roll on fly controls that have substance to them.

Now the real problem comes out. It's not that she has sensitive skin or that she is trashing her legs while riding down the trail. But rather that you have a bug problem.

Fly spray works on certain types of flies. If you apply the spray and still have bugs bitting her legs. Then you probably are not applying a spray that works for that type of bug. And no there is no generic fly spray that will repel all types of bugs. Some bugs are just going to ignor any spray you put on.

My gelding is plagued by gnats that chew on his ventral line under his chest and belly. I've yet to find a spray that will repel them. He gets itchy from their activities and bites, rubs, scratch himself raw in that area. He does more damage than the bugs every did. While I can't replel the gnats, I can treat the symptoms of that come from the itching. Thus reducing how raw he will scratch or rub his bottom line.

Covering your horses legs while she stands around may stop or reduce the bug bites. But I'm not sure that splint boots or other types of leg protection are the most cost effective or cover the largest area. They are usually designed to protect the tendons and ligiments for horses that are performing activities that have a greater chance of the horse stepping on itself. Laterial movements, spins, sidepasses etc.

I don't live in your part of the country, So I can't offer any advice on what works for your bugs. Ask your local vet what he/she might suggest to reduce the bugs or irriation they leave.

But in general, most horses can survive the hordes of bugs that come with summer, And a few scabs are part of life.

The bugs are only part of it. I do want protection for her legs as she is older and I don't want her straining anything or getting cuts from her kicking and or tripping over herself. She does have very sensitive skin and that was something I was warned about when I adopted her.

I imagine fly spray works just like the flea and tick stuff for dogs. Not all products work on every animal and you have to find what works. But a few scabs would apply to half of one leg she's covered in scabs on her legs. Out of the 24 other horses she's the only with scabs already. She's a grey horse with white legs so she's more prone to issues anyway.

It seems she may have had an injury to one of her back legs as her left is always a pain to pick up and she twitches if you hold it wrong. So I really do want protection for her joints and everything too.Posted via Mobile Device

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